Ryan J. Reilly: January 29, 2012 - February 4, 2012

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Ryan J. Reilly

'Taco Mayor' On New Appointee: 'Is He Not Dark Enough For You?'

Ryan J. Reilly | February 1, 2012, 2:58PM

The mayor who responded to a federal investigation into his town's alleged abuse of Latino residents by saying he might eat tacos for dinner is back for seconds.

After a reporter with the New Haven Register observed during a long interview with East Haven Mayor Joseph Maturo Jr. that the sole minority member of an eight-member committee seeking to improve the police department was Puerto Rican (while most members of the town's growing Latino community are Ecuadorian), Maturo asked why anyone would have to choose "a certain type of Latino."

"If there's a certain type of Latino that I should have picked, well then let somebody write it down on paper," Maturo said, according to the newspaper. "'I want a 5-foot-2, I want a certain sex.' You tell me what you guys want. You want me to order it?"

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Topics: Joseph Maturo

Anthony Weiner

Report: Weiner Paid Private Investigators To Look Into Twitter Crotch Shot 'Hack'

Ryan J. Reilly | February 1, 2012, 12:30PM

A $13,290 payment to a private investigation firm for "legal services" appears on the Federal Election Commission report filed by former Rep. Anthony Weiner's campaign, a payment sources tell the New York Daily News was for an investigation into who "hacked" Weiner's Twitter account to post a photo of his underwear-clad lower torso.

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Topics: Anthony Weiner

James Bopp Jr.

Citizens United Lawyer: I Hate Super PACs Too

Ryan J. Reilly | February 1, 2012, 10:38AM

The Republican lawyer on the case that arguably helped pave the way for the creation of so-called "super PACs" told TPM this week that he hopes politicians will realize that the contribution limits on their campaigns are putting them at a huge disadvantage, and will pass legislation dashing such restrictions.

An odd position for a key player in the opening of the anonymous-campaign-cash floodgates to have? James Bopp Jr. says no.

"I'm very hopeful and actually expect that incumbent politicians are going to look at themselves and say we are severely handicapped" in comparison to super PACs, Bopp told TPM, arguing that political campaigns were more accountable to voters than super PACs.

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Topics: Campaign Donations, Campaign Finance, FEC, Federal Election Commission, James Bopp Jr., Republican Super PAC

Sheldon Adelson

Sheldon Adelson's Family Members Funded Half Of Newt Super PAC's 2011 Haul

Ryan J. Reilly | January 31, 2012, 9:53PM

Three Las Vegas residents and non-blood relatives of casino executive Sheldon Adelson who describe themselves as "self-employed" gave a combined $1 million to a "super PAC" backing Republican Newt Gingrich on the same day in December.

Sheldon Adelson reportedly didn't jump in to offer Winning The Future any help until early 2012, a period not covered by the Federal Election Commission report filed on Tuesday. But Adelson's wife's son-in-law provided $250,000 while Adelson's wife's daughters -- also "self-employed" -- tossed in $500,000 and $250,000 a piece. Their sum total accounts for nearly half of the $2,080,250 the group took in during December.

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Topics: Campaign Donations, Campaign Finance, Newt Gingrich, Sheldon Adelson, Winning Our Future

Rick Tyler

Gingrich Campaign In Debt To Super PAC Head, Paid Newt $47K For Email List

Ryan J. Reilly | January 31, 2012, 6:05PM

Newt Gingrich's campaign, which closed out 2011 with $2.1 million to its name while carrying over a million dollars in debt, still owes $1,666.66 to Rick Tyler -- the former Gingrich aide who now runs a "super PAC" supporting his candidacy.

Figuring out a way to pay off the $1,666.66 debt owed to Tyler for "strategic consulting" might be a bit awkward since the Gingrich campaign isn't allowed to coordinate with Tyler's Winning Our Future "super PAC."